Most Recent Favorites in Piraeus

Soula at Posidon Express

Favorite thing:
I had spent a lot of time on special numbers where you can info on the various ferry departures from Athens and Piraeus and also on the websites for the airlines - trying to decide how and what order to island hop to Crete via Santorini.

I decided on a 5pm ferry from Piraeus but the hotel receptionist that offered to order me a taxi when I said oh its fine I will get a taxi from all those taxis Ive seen waiting down on the main road did not tell me that there is a known con out on the road there - aftter being ignored by every taxi driver the one that finally stopped dropped me here at the Piraeus ferry port where there are a number of places to buy tickets for the various ferries.

I got excellent help from Soula at the Posiedon Express agency - she was able to confirm the ideas I had to go from Piraeus to Mykonos to Santorini and on to Crete and booked all the tickets I needed so I could see for sure that the journies flowed and the times of them. She told me on arriving early on Mykonos I could ask one of the cafes in town to leave my bag for a while, she gave me definite informations for my questions on visiting Delos which was written about in my Rough Guide guide book - and then on to Santorini and on from there to Crete.

She had a few hotel recommendations and how to get to them - so I booked a hotel to save time and take the opportuniity of the rate - and also was able to discuss with her the best way to go about finding a reasonably priced rental car for the day I would have on Santoriini before catching the ferry on to Crete the next evening.

She spoke good english and was just a great fountain of knowledge for what to see, where what is, where to stay and so on.

Down at the Central Port on the edge of the Bus terminal building and near the 096 bus stop to the airport

Piraeus Ancient History Background

Favorite thing:
Themistocles advised the Athenians to take advantage of Piraeus harbours' strategical potential, instead of using the sandy bay of Phaleron. Foreseeing a new attack by the Persians he built large fortification works and turned Piraeus into a military harbor.

The shipyards that were created then, built the mighty Athenian fleet, which distinguished itself at the Battle of Salamis in 480 BC. Since then, Piraeus has been used as a navy base for the developed and powerful fleet of Athens in the Aegean Sea.

This event is the most interesting for me though I'm very doubt this battle had place there in that time. Have a look at the pic of ancient triera and decide for youself how it could be produced and how it could be moved over the sea? In my opinion it's impossible.

Related to:

Historical Travel

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Cruise over Saronic Gulf and its Islands

Favorite thing:
One day cruise over Saronic Gulf and its three Islands: Poros, Hydra and Aegina is the best way to learn this area in short time. This is the one cruise you have to take folks! Especially if you like me are short on time. Its a great way to see three Greek islands in one day and in particular, three less visited Saronic Gulf islands where real Greeks spend more time than foreigners.

As Islands, they are generally more family oriented. You'll see fewer tattoos and more of traditional Greece, not to mention the outstanding ancient temple of Aphaia on Aegina and Hydra's vehicle free port with donkeys and mules as the main means of transportation! Not that you'll need them though! You can see the port sights on foot and right near the dock too.Poros wont let you down either and you can see the Peloponnese a few meters away as well.

Early morning transfer to the port for embarkation. Cruise to Aegina, Poros, Hydra with a short stop on each island, giving you the chance to explore the ports. Lunch on board. Return in the evening.

Piraeus General Background

Favorite thing:
Piraeus is a city in the periphery of Attica and a suburb located 9 km to the south-west of the center of Athens. Actually, Piraeus is the western part of the Athens coastal zone.It belongs to the Athens urban area. It was the port of the ancient city of Athens and was chosen to serve as the modern port when the city re-emerged.

Piraeus is one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean Sea in terms of passenger transportation, servicing more than 20 million passengers annually. The Piraeus station is the terminus of Line 1 (the "green line"), the electric train service now incorporated into the Athens Metro.

The Archeological Museum of Piraeus, along with the Maritime Museum, reveal the glorious history the city. In Piraeus there are many historical monasteries and churches you can visit.

Today the life of Piraeus is centered on its three ports. You can walk around the central harbour, shared by cargo and passenger ships alike, and watch the constant comings and goings of goods and people from around the world.

Buying Your Ferry Tickets

Favorite thing:
There is a block of ferry offices on Platia Karaiskaka just inside the main entrance to the docks all of which sell ferry tickets. Some only sell tickets for one particular line, whilst others claim to sell for all lines but may have a preference for a particular company. It shouldn't make any difference where you buy your tickets though as the prices are supposed to be fixed, though you may be charged a small booking fee.

What you will find about using the offices is that all the staff are really helpful with planning itinaries and suggestions. I personally used Philippis Tours, who also do air tickets, hotels and car hire, and the guy there was really good, taking about 20 minutes to help me plan my route and then double checking that we were agreed that that was what I required. Also having bought my ticket they were quite happy for me to leave my bag with them until later that evening when I was due to sail.

Left Luggage At Piraeus

Favorite thing:
If you intend to do a bit of Island hopping then travelling light is obviously a good idea and at Piraeus there are two left luggage options:

Firstly, there are coin operated lockers at the Metro station which I think were 3 euros a day and with a maximum storage period which I can't remember but I think that after 7 days or something then they remove your luggage and put it into the station storage where you have something like 30 days to pick it up.

Secondly, there is a left luggage place at the big cafe on the corner of the ferry office block at Platia Karaiskaki in the middle of the port which charges a basic 4 euro fee and then 2 euros per day and will hold your luggage for as long as you require, though I don't know their policy on refunds if you pick it up early. Also at the same cafe there is an internet room but I seem to recall it being pricey at 4 euros for 1/2 an hour.

I personally used the second option and it seemed perfectly secure, there always being staff around.

Related to:

Sailing and Boating

Adventure Travel

Beaches

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NAUTICAL MUSEUM

Favorite thing:
It was founded in 1949 and among the exhibits you can see models of ancient and modern ships, paintings made by some of the greatest 19th and 20th century Greek painters of seascapes . You can also see guns, flags, medals, nautical instruments, and maps. Akti Themistokleous, Freattys, 185 37 Piraeus

The picture is one of the exhibits of the Museum, a Byzantine Corvette.

Visit the Archeological Museum...

Favorite thing:
Visit the Archeological Museum of Pireaus. The museum was found in 1935 and the extension of the new museum was carried out in 1966.You can see the followings inside the museum:

Dedicatory reliefs of the 5th and 4th centuries B.C. from Piraeus. A statue of the Mother of the Gods (4th century)Hellenistic and Roman sculptures from PireausPottery from excavations in Pireaus and SalamisBronze statues of the classical period of Pireaus

Working hours: every day from 8.30-15.00. Monday:closedLocation: 31, Ch. Trikoupi strThe picture shows a bronze statue of Athena (4th century B.C.)

When strolling around Pireaus...

Favorite thing:
When strolling around Pireaus if you see this building somewhere you will know that it is the University of Pireaus.

Short history of the University It was founded in 1938. Its name was School for Industrial Studies. In 1945 it was renamed to Higher School for Industrial Studies and its aim was to be the theoretical and practical training of managerial executives. In 1958, the Higher School for Industrial Studies was renamed to Industrial University. In 1989, the Industrial University was again renamed to University of Piraeus.

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